The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death.
Proverbs 13:14

Here God tells us that the law or teaching of the wise - the one who sees things as God sees them - is a fountain of life.  As usual - we are being taught to have a very teachable spirit - and this is especially the case when we are hearing truths from someone who is wise and godly.  Our ability to pay attention in these moments will make the difference in a large number of situations. 

The phrase "fountain of life" should catch our eyes because it is a term that is very rarely used in Scripture, yet when used it refers to some very important truths.  The first time it is used is in Psalm 36:9 as a reference to God Himself.  With God Himself is the fountain of life.  We are told that it is in His light that we see light.  If we don't take advantage of listening to God - we won't even have the light we need to see things properly.  The other four times when this exact phrase it used is in the Proverbs.  We read in Proverbs 10:11 the the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, so once again we are encouraged to listen closely when a godly or righteous man is speaking.  Next in Proverbs 14:27 we learn that the fear ofthe Lord is a fountain of life.  When we fear God - showing respect to Him and to His Word, we are given the wisdom necessary to "avoid the snares of death."  Lastly in Proverbs 16:22 that understanding is a fountain of life - keeping us from the discipline of fools.  These passages along with the promise here that the teaching of the wise (which is that fountain manifest again) will turn us aside from the snares of death.  We see a pattern here that should catch our attention.  The "fountain of life" is when God Himself is giving wisdom - and that comes through His Word, through godly men and women who speak it, and through gaining understanding when we hear what they have to teach us.  Oh the problems and difficulties that we could avoid in life if we would only listen - and learn from this fountain - hearing what God has to say - and the understanding and cautions that He wants to offer to us.

Our problem is that much like the people in Jeremiah's day, we abandon the fountain of living waters - to dig our own cisterns instead.  We consider so many other sources more informative and worthy of our time rather than the Word of God.  We do not realize the value of godly counsel and teaching until it is too late and we've landed ourselves in the discipline of fools.  That is why it is wise to cultivate a desire for and an ear to hear what God is saying to us - no matter what the source at the time.  Listening will provide blessing - and in some cases the difference between walking unhindered in our lives, as opposed to finding that our path has led us to fall into a pit.  Such "snares of death" can be avoided if we will only listen and learn that the bait in the snare is a lie.  It won't bring satisfaction.  It will only be a lure to bring us down and yield death and destruction in our lives.  

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death.
Proverbs 13:14

Here God tells us that the law or teaching of the wise - the one who sees things as God sees them - is a fountain of life.  As usual - we are being taught to have a very teachable spirit - and this is especially the case when we are hearing truths from someone who is wise and godly.  Our ability to pay attention in these moments will make the difference in a large number of situations. 

The phrase "fountain of life" should catch our eyes because it is a term that is very rarely used in Scripture, yet when used it refers to some very important truths.  The first time it is used is in Psalm 36:9 as a reference to God Himself.  With God Himself is the fountain of life.  We are told that it is in His light that we see light.  If we don't take advantage of listening to God - we won't even have the light we need to see things properly.  The other four times when this exact phrase it used is in the Proverbs.  We read in Proverbs 10:11 the the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, so once again we are encouraged to listen closely when a godly or righteous man is speaking.  Next in Proverbs 14:27 we learn that the fear ofthe Lord is a fountain of life.  When we fear God - showing respect to Him and to His Word, we are given the wisdom necessary to "avoid the snares of death."  Lastly in Proverbs 16:22 that understanding is a fountain of life - keeping us from the discipline of fools.  These passages along with the promise here that the teaching of the wise (which is that fountain manifest again) will turn us aside from the snares of death.  We see a pattern here that should catch our attention.  The "fountain of life" is when God Himself is giving wisdom - and that comes through His Word, through godly men and women who speak it, and through gaining understanding when we hear what they have to teach us.  Oh the problems and difficulties that we could avoid in life if we would only listen - and learn from this fountain - hearing what God has to say - and the understanding and cautions that He wants to offer to us.

Our problem is that much like the people in Jeremiah's day, we abandon the fountain of living waters - to dig our own cisterns instead.  We consider so many other sources more informative and worthy of our time rather than the Word of God.  We do not realize the value of godly counsel and teaching until it is too late and we've landed ourselves in the discipline of fools.  That is why it is wise to cultivate a desire for and an ear to hear what God is saying to us - no matter what the source at the time.  Listening will provide blessing - and in some cases the difference between walking unhindered in our lives, as opposed to finding that our path has led us to fall into a pit.  Such "snares of death" can be avoided if we will only listen and learn that the bait in the snare is a lie.  It won't bring satisfaction.  It will only be a lure to bring us down and yield death and destruction in our lives.  

But he does not know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of Sheol. Proverbs 9:18

We now come to the closing verse of the this passage.  We have been warned of the dangers of listening to Folly and her call to live foolishly.  We've seen where she dwells and from where she is callling us.  We've also seen that she is calling us with deception and lies.  But the final warning that is given to us has to do with where those who listen to her wind up going. 

One of the reasons we listen to the call of foolishness is because we do not realize where we will wind up spending eternity if we follow her counsel.  We are told that we do not know, as we foolishly listen and follow her counsel that we will end up dead.  We will go to the dead - because that is where all her guests find themselves in the end.  What an interesting picture this paints for us.  She invites guests to come and partake of what she offers to them.  Yet what she feeds them, though appetizing at first - winds up killing them spiritually.  What a hostess she is to us - lying to us and deceiving us into eating what will bring us death.  This gives us another clue to where she is from.  The other one who did this did it in the garden - with the offer of food to Adam and Eve.  Satan offered them what seemed to be food that was delightful to the eye and that also looked good for food.  But when they partook of it all they received was death.  The same lie that was offered in the garden is the same lie that is still being offered to people by Folly today.  And it has the same consequences - it yields death for us instead of life.

A wise man will learn how to discern when foolishness is calling.  It is not an easy thing to do because we are fallen - and our tendencies are to walk in such things.  It is only as we renew our minds with God's Word that we will be able to detect the lies of the evil one, the calls of foolishness to us, and the deception that is involved.  But no matter what the cost for us - to discern foolishness' call is vitally important for us.  It is also vital that we take the time to instruct and advise our sons and daughters to do the same.  May God bring up a generation that learns to reject Folly's call - and instead - have our ears and spirits in tune with the voice of God's Spirit instead.

For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead; None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life. Proverbs 2:18-19

Where does sexual immorality get you in the end?  We all realize that it promises pleasure in the short term - but where do we wind up when the pleasure subsides and a life course reaches its end?  That is what today's proverb tells us.  It informs us of this through the destination of the harlot - the "strange woman" - the adulteress.

First, we learn of her "house."  This speaks of the place where someone dwells.  The word was used to indicate the building in which a family or household lives.  Here, though, it speaks metaphorically of where she will take you - as she encourages you to enter into adultery with her.  Her house sinks down to death.  There is no solid ground upon which to stand - or upon which to found a house with this woman.  How could there be - she is trashing her marital vows - ignoring God's Word - and striking out into her own desires for sex and for unbiblical companionship.  Her house will collapse - and sink like one built on sand.  Christ spoke of this in Matthew 7:24-27.  A person whose life is not built upon obedience to Christ's Word - is a life built upon sand.  The adulteress may promise passion and pleasure for a night - but when the storm of the adultery is known - the house will collapse because it was built on the sand foundation of sexual desires. 

Her house sinks like sand - down to death.  Her tracks or steps also lead to the dead.  Her house here is sinking toward being dead.  The term death here refers to more than just physical death.  When this term is used figuratively it expresses the idea of ruin and destruction.  It is most often contrasted with the opposite ideas of life, prosperity, and happiness.  Can you imagine walking into a buildling - a home - where you are guaranteed that any desires for life, prosperity, and happiness are going to be dashed upon the rocks of your own strong sexual urges.  What the father is trying to get the son to see here is that embracing God's Word will instruct him and help deliver him from such things - and from such women.

He is also telling his son that to follow her steps toward the bedroom - is to follow in a path that leads to the spirits of the dead.  I am not a fan of horror movies - but I can imagine a scene where seduction is taking place - and a man chooses to follow an adulteress into the bedroom.  But what I see as a result of the Scriptures is not a hot and heavy sex scene - but a transformation of those steps from following a sultry seductress to following an evil spirit.  Each step renders the former beauty that was leading me to the bed of adultery into a hideous, horrific creature that would make any horror film antagonist look like little bo peep in comparison.  That is the picture that is being painted for us.  But there is more in the next verse.

As this fool follows the adulteress into her bedroom - the door behind them begins to shut.  Movie producers would have us to believe the shutting of that door closes the two of them in a room of ecstacy and a night of sexual pleasure that the two of them will never forget.  That is not the picture that the Word of God wants us to see though.

As the door closes - it is not with a gentle click of the doorknob hitting the plate.  What we hear is a slamming sound - and the sound we hear reverberates throughout all of eternity.  We read in the proverb that none who go to her return again, nor to they reach the paths of life.  What we need to hear is not a gentle door closing - but a snapping of a trap which ends with the crushing sound of our spiritual life being snuffed out.  If we go this way - we are closing ourselves into a prison cell - into a torture chamber.  We are locking ourselves into a sin the likes of which we may never escape.  This is not a pleasure palace.  It is a poisoned pit that will captivate us forever.  The poison is released when the flesh has secured our devotion to sexual immorality.  We become addicted to the high of sexual release - especially the kind of release that involves secret, unlawful, hidden, wicked actions.  That kind of high has enslaved men and women since the entrance of sin into this world. 

I realize in reading this some will accuse me of resorting to extremes to prove a point.  But consider the lengths the movie and television industry goes to in order to supposedly entertain us.  They are capturing us with pictures - with scenes that they want to etch into our minds.  The vast majority of the time these pictures and scenes are promoting the very things that the Scriptures warn against.  Yet we do not accuse them of something elicit.  God understood the power of pictures long before the idea of cinema ever entered the mind of man.  That is why His Word is filled with some of the most expressive language ever written.  That is why He uses word picture after word picture to warn us of the pitfalls and dangers of sin.  Rather than discourage a child from seeing the ones God gives us - maybe as fathers we should paint them in the most vivid colors imaginable for our sons and daughters.  I know that if we do we will find ourselves in the company of some very wise and godly men who knew how to use them for the glory of God and the protection of their children - rather than for a gold statue handed out at an awards show.  Remember dads, the only awards show that matters is the one at the end of the age - where the ONLY presenter will be God Himself. 

There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.  Proverbs 14:12

Why is it that we cannot just trust our natural instincts concerning God and issues of morality and truth?  If this proverb is true (and it is), then we face a very real danger when we trust what we think is right in our lives.  When we live a self-directed life and a life that is self-oriented - we are going to have very serious problems.  Why is this the case? 

First of all, we need to see that for a time in this life - this proverb may seem like it is wrong.  There are those who do what they think is right - and it seems to go well for them.  I would agree with this assessment for the here and now - for life on this earth.  But that is not what this proverb is saying to us.  It is saying that the end of a self-directed life is death.  The word end here is our old friend, "acharith," the Hebrew word meaning the latter end of things. 

Things seemed to be going marvelous for the rich farmer who did not use his riches for the glory of God.  Things seemed to be going well for the rich man who lavished abundance on himself, but did not even notice the starving Lazarus at his gate.  Things seemed to be going well for Belshazzar the king as he feasted with his nobles and friends and drank wine out of the temple goblets and toasted the gods of silver and gold.  Things seemed to be going well for many people who lived a life of luxury and self-indulgence here on earth.  The problem is going to come at the latter end of their lives.

The rich farmer, after building bigger barns and saying he was set for life - experienced the end of his life - and had done nothing to prepare for eternity.  The rich man realized as James said, the humiliation of his exalted position on earth, as he envied the destitute Lazarus' one in the afterlife.  He begged for Lazarus to only dip the tip of his finger in water and touch the end of his tongue - for he was in agony in the fires of hell.  Belshazzar soon grasped the infinite foolishness of serving the false gods of silver and gold - when the true and living God sent a hand to write on his wall.  He learned that his self-directed life had been weighed in the balances - and he was found wanting.  One can only hope he enjoyed that banquet that evening - for by the next evening he was dead and in hell - forever wanting in the sight of God.

These three are examples for us of the stupidity of the self-directed life.  There are many others in Scripture and in life who follow their footsteps into hell.  There is Dathan and Abiram who opposed God and received a non-stop trip to hell via the ground opening up and swallowing them and their families whole.  There were the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah who undoubtedly held the same concept of God keeping His morality off of their bodies.  They wound up fried along with their cities as God's judgment revealed their latter end.  And, lest we think that this ignoble end is only for those guilty of heinous sin - there are those who die every day as good ole boys - as "good" "moral" people.  Their ultimate end was sealed when they decided that they were decent enough and did not need Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross to pay for their sins. 

When you listen to the news, the entertainment industry, the religious elite, and the gurus of public opinion - you would think that the cross of Christ is foolishness (Gee that sounds like Paul in 1 Corinthians doesn't it).  You would think that mankind does not need a religious crutch to lean on - mankind can solve their own problems without religion or some savior.  But reality is this - mankind does not need a crutch.  We would only need a crutch if we were injured.  The fact is that we are dead!  We need a whole new life.  We might need a religious system if we only needed modification.  The fact is that we are ruined.  We need to be completely regenerated and made new.  But the world for the most part rejects these truths revealed to us in Scripture.  They have a way that seems right to them - that makes more sense.  That is because "the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."  It is because, "the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks (read thinkers here) search for wisdom; but we preach Christ curcified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." 

There is that way that seems to right to men - but in the end "THAT WAY" is actually the foolish and the stupid one.  If they continue following it and reject the gospel . . . it will end in death - eternal death in hell.  I know that is not popular in today's culture - either religious or secular - but nevertheless - it is the truth.  If we are wise we will reject what the world calls wisdom - and embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ - for that is truly wisdom that will last through all the ages and until the end of time.

And you groan at your final end, When your flesh and your body are consumed; Proerbs 5:11 

The latter end of our days.  The consequences of our actions not after a few moments - but a week later, a month later, a year later, a lifetime later.  This is what verse 11 of our proverb today is calling out to us today.  It is a challenge to think beyond the moment when we make choices.  It is a challenge to think longer in to our future and consider where our choices are going to take us.   

This chapter of Proverbs deals primarily with the adulterous woman and what she will do to the poor schlub who decides to engage in sexual immorality with her.  So far this proverb has told us of some very harsh consequences that will come to the one who does this.  We've seen so far that we will give our vigor to others (11), we will give our years to the cruel one which is a reference to the devil (11), the divorce that will likely come will end up having us send our goods to the house of someone else (12), and we will watch strangers be given the money we've earned with our strength (12).  These are pretty difficult things to handle - but now we see that the latter end of our lives will be bad.  The term "final end" is only one word in the Hebrew.  It is the word "acharith" which means to the end of the matter.  It has to do with having the wisdom to see what the final end of something is going to be.  According to today's proverb, our latter end - our acharith will be that we will groan as our flesh and body are consumed.  Let's take a look at what that may mean for us.

The rabbis speak about this passage and beleive it speaks to a problem with disease.  When you engage in sexual immorality it opens you up to the world of STD's that run rampant among the sexually active crowd.  I just took a few minutes to peruse the CDC website on sexually transmitted diseases and it was frightening to consider how many in our society are infected already.  What is even more frightening is that these are statistics from those who report that they have STD's.  Some experts believe that these numbers would at least triple or quadruple if we knew everyone who is truly infected.  Most of these diseases do not have an immediate effect on someone, but just about every one of them have devastating long-term problems that come with being infected.  This is what we would expect when we read what God has to say about sexual immorality here in Proverbs.  It is at the latter end of your days that you find your flesh and body consumed by the consequences of your actions.  It is a sad reality though that when these things begin to strike, we will groan because of them.  The groan mentioned here refers to a groan or a growl - even a roar could be the meaning.  What is being communicated to us is that the pain involved here is pretty excruciating.  If you've ever seen or heard of how someone dies of AIDS or syphilis, it is not pretty.  But this is what awaits those who indulge in sexual immorality very often. 

Wisdom is this - God's way in sexuality.  He desires for us to reserve ourselves for our husband or wife.  He desires abstinence in singleness and faithfulness in marriage.  If our society were to adopt these practices we would watch STD's plummet in number - and eventually be gone from our world.  But the truth is that fallen men and women engage in sexual immorality.  The result therefore is that we have a world that is unfortunately running wild in a very dangerous area - and that the infection rates will continue to rise.  May God give us wisdom to avoid being one of the statistics and hold fast to God's way.  May we also be wise as fathers in instructing our children - especially our sons as to the true dangers that are out there for the sexually immoral one. 

Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way; He who hates reproof will die. Proverbs 15:10

What happens when we depart from God's ways?  According to this passage in Proverbs there is a very serious consequence for us when we do this.  Even worse is what awaits us if we go even further than this and reject God's reproof after we've left his ways. 

What is at stake here?  Well, what drives this particular proverb is the idea of "forsaking the way."  "The way," refers to God's way - the way of his commandments.  Several times the phrase, "the way of the Lord" is used to refer to this.  If you want to understand it better you can turn to the 119th Psalm which calls it by various names like, "the way of righteousness," "the way of Your testimonies," "the way of Your precepts," "the way of Your statutes," as well as what we've already said as the way of God's commandments.  This way is the commands and the things God calls us to be and to do in His Word.  When we "forsake" this way, we are doing the following.  We no longer listen carefully to God's Word - we don't pay heed to it or obey it.  But the core idea here is no longer listening or paying attention to someone.  That Someone here is God.  In case you do not know what this means - it means as you listen - you do so in order to respond and obey God.

What happens when we forsake God's way?  The Word here says that we face "grevious punishment."  The word translated for this is the Hebrew word "ra" - and it simply means, bad things!  When you no longer walk with God, listen to Him, or obey Him - bad things are going to eventually happen in your life.  This is the case no matter whether you are His or not.  If you take a close look at the progress (or regress) of the world around you, you can see that ignoring and forsaking God's ways has never led to a world of peace and blessing.  By its very nature this world works best when God's ways and paths are followed.  When they are ignored - or worse - shunned, things go bad.  This is a fait accompli - an established fact! 

Now a second warning is also issued at this point - and I think it is a reminder that God's rebuke and reproof are proofs of His love - not hate.  When we forsake God's way, we will face bad things, but when we go further and ignore His loving reproof of those ways and continue in rebellion - we are headed toward death.  It is God's great mercy and love that arrests us in our rebellion with disciplinary action.  He allows difficulties and problems to come to us to turn us from the insanity of abandoning His ways.  But when we are too stubborn to listen - we are moving toward death itself.  What is terrifying is the warning in 1 John that there is a sin leading unto death - a point at which a disciplinary measure from God involves having a person die.  Wisdom tells us to respond to His discipline and His reproof quickly - so that we will not have to go that far.

One last comment on this passage.  These two truths are just that - truth.  But they had their most astounding fulfillment in the cross of Jesus Christ.  It was there that we saw the most grievous punishment imaginable.  It had nothing to do with the Roman scourage or the nails in the hands of our Savior.  It had little or nothing to do with the agony of the cross physically as Jesus gapsed for air as His torn and bruised body slowly died on the cross.  But it had everything to do with why Jesus sweat blood the night before in the garden.  It had everything to do with the agony of the wrath and judgment of God upon sin.  Calling it a grevious punishment seems too small in light of what it truly cost Christ to pay for our sin before His holy Father.  That is why we should never take sin in our lives lightly.  Yes, our sin was paid in full by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross - but we should always view that truth with both trembling and a sense of honor to God for what He did for us.  Otherwise we will take sin too lightly - and risk thinking that forsaking His way really is not that bad - and it really won't cost us much.  There is foolish talk that reaches to the heavens themselves - and the kind of talk that will give rise to actions that will in the end yield that grevious punishment and stinging rebuke.

The eye that mocks a father And scorns a mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it. Proverbs 30:17

This proverb is one of those that seems a little harsh when you first read it - especially if you've ever been disrespectful to your parents.  Your average kid might say, "You mean to say that if I scorn my parents, I'm doomed to have scavenger birds peck my eye out and eat it?"  Since we know that not every rebellious child and teenager has had his eyes destroyed by a flock of ravens and eagles - we know that this passage has more to teach us than just a scary warning that probably would not work on kids anyway.  But just what is this proverb trying to show us?

The key comes in understanding why a bird - especially a scavenger would have any interest in an animal's eyes.  You see both of the birds mentioned in this passage are scavengers.  That means that they both eat dead things.  But one practice that ravens have as they approach carrion is that they need to be sure it is dead.  That can mean the difference in having a meal and being one to the raven.  Therefore when a raven suspects an animal to be dead - he goes straight for the eye.  The raven lands near the animal and sees if the animal makes any movements.  Then when the raven detects that things are clear for the most part - he subjects the animal to the ultimate test as to whether it is alive or dead.  He pecks at the animal's eye.  If an animal does not move to protect the eye, it is dead.  As the raven picks out the eye of the animal - it assures him that the animal is dead.  Often early in the meal that follows, a larger predator - which is where the young eagle comes in - will arrive and take over the meal from the raven, who wisely knows when he is outmatched. 

Now, let's take what we've learned from nature - and apply it to what is said in this passage.  When a young person feels his oats enough to begin mocking his own father and mother it is a very dangerous sign.  The reference to the raven and the young eagle is not a direct threat - but rather a reminder.  He is spiritually dead.  This is not so much a threat of future aviary retribution - but of the spiritual reality of where this young man or woman is.  God promises us that the one who honors his mother and father will live long on the earth.  Great blessing is in store for the child who learns about respect, honor, and submission in subjection to his parents.  These are vital lessons to learn if he or she is going to be successful in life - and after life is over.  These come through properly relating to one's parents.  If we don't learn them in the home - we will face learning them out in the world where the cost to learn them is far higher than it is with mom and dad. 

One last thing that we need to note here is that we are not talking about open rebellion here - but the "eye" that mocks father and mother.  This is as much a look as it is an action.  I remember my mother telling me not to look at her in that tone of voice.  It was a little bit of a joke - but not really.  She knew, and so did my father, when my eyes were revealing what was really going on in my heart.  The eyes are the window to the soul - and reveal much of what is truly going on in our hearts.  Thus we need to be careful to not only watch our words concerning our parents, but also the way our eyes function as well.  Quite often we might be obeying in our outward members - but our eyes reveal another story altogether.  Remember then, that when the scavengers come looking for the dead - they come looking for those who are dead in their eyes.  When a wise man seeks to determine whether someone is spiritually alive or dead - he can learn much in how a person treats their parents. 

If they say, "Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,"  Proverbs 1:11-14

Here is the call of the sinners who want to entice the godly son to come with them.  Solomon has told his son do not consent to go with these young men.  Let's take a closer look at their enticements today and hopefully learn wisdom from seeing why doing what they say is not wise.

First we see that they want to lay in wait for some pour soul from whom they want to take their life and possessions.  They evidently have marked someone and have plans to rob them and either kill them or harm them pretty significantly.  A couple of things we should note from this.  First of all that these people are not the kind of crowd you want to frequent if you are seeking to set your ways rightly in God's sight.  There are some folks who spend a good portion of their lives looking for trouble.  Here they want to ambush some poor schlub who has no idea what is about to happen to him.  Second, they want to attack the "innocent."  This is never a good idea if we read what God thinks about harming innocent people. 

These evil men want to swallow people up - like death itself.  This is not too difficult to see since these people seem to be motivated by death and hell itself.  This reveals a condition in their hearts that is truly evil.  It is as if they embrace death itself. 

This speaks to much of our entertainment industry today.  There is a whole genre of films today that glory in violence and destruction.  It really should not shock us that the same kind of violence also is permeating our society as well.  For years I've believed that the company we keep in the movie industry also has a great deal of influence in our thinking.  Will we rise up and kill someone because we watched a movie - probably not.  But the problem becomes that we are more and more desensitized to violence and evil behavior.  Either way, it is not wise to keep the company of the wicked - or the films that they make.  Just as a principle for future use - Jesus is preoccupied with life.  If someone is preoccupied with death, destruction, the place of the dead, and the pit - probably not someone you need to hang out with in life.

 Here we see the true reason for their violence - greed.  They covet what their victims have - and desire to use it to make themselves wealthy.  Their worldly-mindedness shows itself in their desire to have money, to have wealth, to have houses filled with the spoil they gained from the destruction of anyone who had what they wanted.  Their greedy appetite will be their eventual undoing.  God's Word makes it clear that you shall not steal - and those who choose to do so - will not prosper but will eventually face the jugment of God against their actions.

The enticement for the unwise young man is that they will all have one lot - and when the plunder is theirs - one purse.  They are putting themselves together for a common cause as well as a common financial stake in all that they were going to do.  What is NOT being said here is that they will also wind up sharing a common end.  Since they have embraced violence and death - destruction and the pit - it is only fitting that they will also embrace those things as their common end as well.  This is not an exciting lifesyle (although it may seem that way here on this earth).  It is a destructive one that will end in the destruction of the one who is walking in it. 

Here we have seen the way of sinners.  We have seen the way of those who live for their wealth and schemes to take from others so that they can be rich.  We have seen those preoccupied with death and destruction.  And hopefully - as we continue in another day to see what Solomon has to say about how unwise it is to live this way - we will see how as they open their heart to pour out death and wickedness, they will find that wickedness is poured to overflowing into their hearts as well.  Here is the height of foolishness - may God give us grace that we will not fall into the company or the ways of such fools.  May instead He give us a heart of wisdom.